Andy on the Run: The local running scene, by the numbers

Sunday

May 30, 2010 at 3:15 AM

On a number of occasions I have pointed out the extraordinary growth of road races and triathlons in New Hampshire. By now I should be used to it. I'm not. That's why I find myself amazed at a current stretch the Granite State racing scene is going through. From May 19 through June 19 we will see the most prolific stretch of running and racing the state has ever seen. Let me show you.

On a cloudy night in Concord on May 19 thousands gathered for the Rock N Race 5K. More than 2,100 were officially timed as finishers. Because walkers have the option of not being timed the official number of finishers is not known, but anyone present knows there were another 3,000 or so walkers who crossed the finish line. Without the untimed walkers Rock N Race is the second-largest race in New Hampshire. Add those walkers to the total and the event rivals Manchester's Cigna Eliot 5K as the largest.

Three days after Rock N Race the Granite State saw a good turnout for the Bedford Rotary 5K/12K races. The 12K was part of the New England Grand Prix series and 533 runners showed up. Another 233 ran the 5K, bringing the race day total to more than 760. That's a pretty good number for a race in Bedford.

The next day, May 23, a new race in Exeter, the Run For Angie 5K, had 361 finishers. Add that total to Bedford's numbers and that's another 1,000 who took to the New Hampshire streets. There were also a couple small races that helped increase the numbers.

Now the fun really begins. On this Memorial Day weekend the only N.H. race of consequence will be the Runner's Alley/Red Hook 5K in Portsmouth. The race has sold out its 2,000 entries so the number of finishers will be well more than 1,500. By the end of the year Runner's Alley/Red Hook will probably be the seacoast's largest race.

Next weekend the Seacoast will see another 1,000 plus race when the Smuttynose 5K runs in the town of Newmarket. This will be the second year in a row that Smuttynose tops 1,000, a pretty good achievement for a race in its fourth year. While folks run and walk in big numbers in the seacoast there will be a lot of athletes swimming, biking, and running in Bristol at the Mooseman Triathlon Festival. The two day event will also draw more than 1,000 finishers giving N.H. two events on the same weekend with more than 1,000.

Remember when the Market Square Day 10K stood alone as New Hampshire's largest race. There were a few years, in the 1990s, when it was the only race in the Granite State with more than 1,000 finishers. On June 12, when MSD takes place for the 33rd time, it will be the third weekend in a row when the seacoast hosts a race with more than 1,000 finishers.

If there was a race that deserves to be an honorary member of the 1,000 club (N.H. races with more than 1,000 finishers) it is the Mt. Washington Road Race. Logistics limit the field to 1,000 entries but most years the race gets about 2,000 requests. This year, because it is the 50th Mt. Washington, the requests topped 2,500. Because the field is limited to 1,000 and because of no-shows, the race has never had 1,000 finishers. So, when it is held on June 19 you can expect anywhere from 850 to 950 finishers.

Add it all up. Five thousand at Rock N Race, another thousand the following weekend followed by two consecutive weekends of 1,000, a weekend with two 1,000 plus finishers, another 1,000 plus race, and the Mt. Washington race bringing in just under 1,000. Throw in a number of smaller events and that means about 12,000 runners and walkers will take part in New Hampshire races in a one month span.

It is also worth noting that runners and walkers are not the only ones to be praised. It takes a lot of work to put on races of the sizes so a tip of the hat to all the race organizers, volunteers, etc. In particular, a pat on the back to the timing companies who will manage to get everyone across the finish line and in the results.

So between runners, walkers, and those working behind the scenes, see why I'm impressed?

Running shorts…One of the smaller races taking place next weekend is the Rye-By-The-Sea Duathlon/5K races in Rye…I always love seeing a N.H. athlete compete well at races held outside the state. That's why I loved seeing Seabrook's Bruce Butterworth win the Tri for the Y duathlon in Freeport, Maine, held on May 22…Speaking of loving a situation, I love races at Waterville Valley, one of the most beautiful spots in the state. That's why I loved the Black Bear Duathlon races held at Waterville Valley last weekend. It is also why I recommend triathletes sign up for the Black Fly races at WV on July 9-11.

Andy Schachat writes about running for Foster's Sunday Citizen. You can contact Andy at aschachat@ttlc.net.

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